A1A restoration about to get a lot louder

FORT LAUDERDALE — It's about to get a lot louder for residents who live near a stretch of State Road A1A that took a pounding from Hurricane Sandy and other storms last fall.

Crews on Monday afternoon will begin driving piles into the ground that will form the new protective sea wall along the road between Northeast 14th Court and 18th Street, north of Sunrise Boulevard.

"This will be the most noticeable work that's taken place so far," said Barbara Kelleher, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Transportation. "You may feel the vibration."

Up to five trucks a day have been delivering the sheets of steel during the past week. A giant crane was set up, along with a machine for pounding the 44-foot steel sheets into the ground on the beach side of the road, until only 18 inches remain visible. As the piles are installed, a separate crew will place a wood cap or top on the wall.

The pile-driving work will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. It should last about one month.

The road will remain open through construction, although the speed limit is reduced to 25 mph.

When the wall is completed, the eroded areas on the roadway side will be filled and the area will be paved. The roadway will be restriped to include one southbound bike lane, one southbound travel lane, a center left-turn lane, a northbound travel lane and a northbound bike lane.

Before the hurricane, there were two travel lanes in each direction.

The sidewalk and parallel parking will remain on the west side of A1A.

The temporary, orange/white barrier wall will be replaced by a short, temporary curb on the east side of the northbound bike lane. The area between the new curb and the new sea wall will be re-opened to beach-goers and pedestrians.